Over 2 million speeding tickets issued during 2016

The number of speeding offences in Britain shows no chance of slowing down, with many drivers presuming speed limits to be optional and millions of violations being clocked up every year.UK drivers racked up more than two million speeding offences according to figures for 2016 that have been obtained under a Freedom of Information request.

UK drivers racked up more than two million speeding offences according to figures for 2016 that have been obtained under a Freedom of Information request.

The data, obtained by karting experts Team Sport, has been analysed to highlight which police forces across the country are dealing with the most speed-related offences.

Speaking to the Sun newspaper, Dominic Gaynor, Managing Director of Team Sport, said: “The data we’ve collated is astounding; it seems motorists in the UK are driving fast and are completely ignoring the limits put in place.

“The speeds recorded are dangerous and drivers really need to think before they take to the wheel, their own safety and that of others is paramount on the roads.”

The worst performers

Figures for 2016 show a total of 2,293,228 tickets were handed out across the UK.

Avon and Somerset seem to be the most prolific in terms of speeding offences, amassing almost 10% of all violations, with 219,550 recorded incidents.

Thames Valley are second in the fast lane, with 173,654 speeding tickets issued. This covers some of the UK’s most prominent motorways – the M25, M40 and M4.

Greater Manchester comes in third, with 120,315 offences on file.
“Some forces like Avon and Somerset are also enforcing the national 70mph limit on smart motorways which may explain why they top the speeding offences table,” said RAC spokesman Simon Williams.

“As this is a relatively new course of action for police forces many motorists are no doubt being caught out by it,” he added.

‘Double the speed limit’

A driver in the West Mercia and Suffolk clocked the highest speed recorded in the country, driving at a breakneck 154mph.

This was closely followed by one driver going 151mph in Nottinghamshire and another at 148mph in Avon and Somerset.

Another two drivers have been recorded driving more than double the national speed limit.

Neil Greig, IAM RoadSmart Director of Policy and Research, said: “No one drives at twice the speed limit by mistake. This is selfish and criminal behaviour that puts everyone at needless risk on the roads.”

Team Sport’s research also reveals that speeding brought in more than £17 million in fines being accrued across the top 10 constabularies alone.